Rotator cuff tear surgery costs

[connda]

Does anyone here have a ballpark cost to fix a torn rotator cuff.  I have a US friend looking for options.
Either BKK or Chiang Mai.

Edited October 21, 2017 by connda

[Sheryl]

Costs will vary enormously depending on the hospital.

 

Least expensive option is a government hospital.  In Bangkok, either Chulalongkhorn or Siriraj. In Chiang Mai, CCU Hospital. Be aware of long waits, red tape and other inconveniences though so if here on only a short trip might nto be practical.

 

Best guess I can give re price would be around 400,000 baht at a private hospital (a little more at some and less at others, but around that) and maybe 150,000  at a government hospital, but these are just estimates.

 

If traveling from another country, India would be less expensive than Thailand. Care in a top tier private hospital in India costs similar to public channel in a government hospital in Thailand.

[dotpoom]

I have no idea what a "rotator cuff" is?

[Trentham]

Do not have an operation in Thailand. I have had and know of others who have had horrendous experiences.

[Trentham]

Thailand has a medical industry - NOT a medical profession.

[Sheryl]

There are some excellent surgeons in Thailand (and also some not so good ones) and many TV members have had rotataor cuff repairs here with good results.

 

Selection of the right surgeon is paramount.

[firestar]

43 minutes ago, Trentham said:

Do not have an operation in Thailand. I have had and know of others who have had horrendous experiences.

People can have "horrendous" experiences anywhere in the world.. just select your surgeon carefully, many very good and experienced ones here.

 

_______

Edited October 21, 2017 by firestar

[Antifreeze]

Got it done at Bangkok Hospital Phuket: 450k

[Minnehaha]

45 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

There are some excellent surgeons in Thailand (and also some not so good ones) and many TV members have had rotataor cuff repairs here with good results.

 

Selection of the right surgeon is paramount.

Yes.  True.  My experience as well. 

Sounds simplistic but sometimes that's what is what. 

And so also remember a doc often works in multiple hospitals and clinics which have different fees.  Asking is the way to find out with certainty but be polite is always helpful. 

[twix38]

The  more treatment I have in Thailand the more I get the impression that competence is low and problems far higher than expected. 

 

I now have 5 big seperate and varied encounters for health issues which vary from poor to unacceptable.

 

I rate the expertise as generally weak but come back if that didn't work and well try again

 

 

[connda]

1 hour ago, Trentham said:

Do not have an operation in Thailand. I have had and know of others who have had horrendous experiences.

I've had surgery in a Thai government hospital.  Based on the service and the results, and compared to my experiences in the United States hospitals before moving to Thailand, I've had a completely different experience as what you are warning others against.

[connda]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Costs will vary enormously depending on the hospital.

 

Least expensive option is a government hospital.  In Bangkok, either Chulalongkhorn or Siriraj. In Chiang Mai, CCU Hospital. Be aware of long waits, red tape and other inconveniences though so if here on only a short trip might nto be practical.

 

Best guess I can give re price would be around 400,000 baht at a private hospital (a little more at some and less at others, but around that) and maybe 150,000  at a government hospital, but these are just estimates.

 

If traveling from another country, India would be less expensive than Thailand. Care in a top tier private hospital in India costs similar to public channel in a government hospital in Thailand.

Personally if it was me, I'd take the long waits at Maharaj in Chiang Mai.  Had top notch surgery for an inguinal hernia repaired there in 2010 for about 18,000 THB total.  Yeah, dealing with the day long waits to get the surgery scheduled was a pain, and about 3 months on the waiting list, but it was elective surgery and I had no complications, and once admitted into the hospital - it was excellent!  Doctors and staff were fantastic!  I have nothing but praises.

[connda]

3 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Costs will vary enormously depending on the hospital.

 

Least expensive option is a government hospital.  In Bangkok, either Chulalongkhorn or Siriraj. In Chiang Mai, CCU Hospital. Be aware of long waits, red tape and other inconveniences though so if here on only a short trip might nto be practical.

 

Best guess I can give re price would be around 400,000 baht at a private hospital (a little more at some and less at others, but around that) and maybe 150,000  at a government hospital, but these are just estimates.

 

If traveling from another country, India would be less expensive than Thailand. Care in a top tier private hospital in India costs similar to public channel in a government hospital in Thailand.

Yeah, my friend is dealing with a $5000 deductible and an insurance company who will not give him an accurate upfront breakdown of the costs at a US hospital, which is now par for the course in the US.  If 150K at a government hospital is low end, then it's a zero-sum solution for him imho.  At the present exchange rate it's about 4500 USD and change.

If anyone has had a rotator cuff repaired in a government hospital, please share what your actual costs were and which hospital.  Or if anyone has had the same surgery in India.  Thanks.

Edited October 21, 2017 by connda

[Estrada]

15 minutes ago, connda said:

I've had surgery in a Thai government hospital.  Based on the service and the results, and compared to my experiences in the United States hospitals before moving to Thailand, I've had a completely different experience as what you are warning others against.

I and all of my friends have had no problems obtaining professional medical treatment or surgery in Thai Government or Private Hospitals over the last 23 years. Many surgeons have studied for 7 years in the United States sponsored by the Thai Government and the terms of the scholarship mean that the doctors, when they return to Thailand to work at Bumrungrad, Bangkok Hospital etc, have to work so many days a week at a Government Hospital.

[bosun]

I am sure your friend has done the rounds already ...  but I took my MRI scan of a rotator cuff tear from Bkk hospital to the UK's leading shoulder surgeon in Harley Street. He recommended everything but surgery ! Sure enough 6 months later I was active again . Now my other rotator is very painful and this time I went to Bumrungrad to a sports injury surgeon.

Same advice. Basically shoulder surgery has some of the worst success rates of any joint surgery. Please ask your friend to think very very carefully and as others have mentioned choose very carefully as it is a big risk especially if he is a bit older. All the best

And sorry the cost is around 350,000 plus at the leading private Thai hospitals

Edited October 21, 2017 by bosun
Ommission

[KOZMO]

1 hour ago, Trentham said:

Do not have an operation in Thailand. I have had and know of others who have had horrendous experiences.

My son had his done in Bangkok hospital. He could not work as a pilot for over 9 months. Mine was fixed in America and i was done in 4 months and i tore both the rotator cuff and bicep on my right arm. I also had an Orthopedic surgeon who almost killed me at Bangkok hospital. I showed him my list of medications and he wrote them down too. He gave me 400mg of Celebrex which would of caused a Stroke or Heart Attack according to my American Cardioligist. It would have had an interaction with both my Blood Pressure meds. I asked for a shot in my shoulder but he gave me the meds instead. I called my doc in America and he said Do NOt take it. Went back to Bangkok hospital and the doc appoligized and gave me the shot im my shoulder ...

[Trentham]

The following paragraphs are each separate responses of mine during an earlier TV discussion on Thai medicine. Read par. 5 on my experience with a rotator cuff diagnosis and make certain it is that which is the problem...............

 

In 2005 I went to Rutnin eye hospital for a check-up - everything was OK. A few weeks later I had a bad headache for a few days. I went Bumrungrad hospital and they diagnosed early onset Alzheimer's. I was talked into MRI's and other expensive treatment which included 6 powerful drugs that sent me close to crazy. After a few weeks of madness I took myself off the drugs and suffered severe withdrawals. They then told me the headaches were due to acute angle glaucoma and did laser surgery. That then led to endless visits [probably 15 times] for check-ups at 3000 baht per time. On a trip home to Australia I went to see an ophthalmologist who told me once you have laser surgery you DO NOT need to go for checks. And I obviously do not have Alzheimer's now 11 years on.

I can tell you an even worse story about BNH Hospital. In 2008 - 9 they treated me for reflux. On two occasions I went to their emergency dept. at 3 Am  in terrible pain. Once they gave me a suppository and said I was constipated and on the other they laid me on a trolley for an hour with a drip in my arm which almost knocked me out. Meanwhile they kept feeding me reflux pills. I went home to Australia for a holiday and went to a local GP for some more reflux pills when I ran out. He refused them and sent me for tests. 2 weeks later I was in Royal Melbourne Hospital with pancreas cancer. I am one of about 3% who survive it. I WILL NEVER TRUST A THAI HOSPITAL with anything worse than a cold.
 

I am a 73 year old redhead and living in rural Australia as a kid I got sunburn nearly every week. I have been getting sun spots [keratosis] frozen off since I was 40. I had them done here too at Bumrungrad several times before I learned not to go there. Each time I was prescribed antibiotics and topical creams which were as expensive as the procedure and sold to me by the hospital. Home in Oz I was never given them and never suffered for not using them.

Another time I was in Phuket and wanted to stay I bit longer. The airline would not let me change my ticket without paying a huge fee unless I had a medical cert. to say I could not fly. So I went to the hospital and told them I was severely congested both nasally and in my chest. I did not tell them it was just an act to get out of the airline fee. I just said I was sick and I was examined by a doctor and  given my certificate. In Nan hospital a friend was diagnosed as having macular degeneration. Terrified of blindness he went back to Oz for a check and there was nothing wrong. Considering my earlier post wherein I said I would not trust a Thai hospital with anything worse than a cold and remembering my Phuket experience I now retract that. I would not trust them with anything at all.

Well I will tell you two more stories about BNH Hospital. I had bought myself a set of weights. Suddenly I had a terrible pain in my shoulder. Off to BNH and was told I had a pinched nerve in my neck. Traction every day for one month [cannot remember the cost of each visit]  and was not cured. They referred me to their orthopedic guy who said I needed a 350,000 baht operation. No way - back to Oz and it was a torn rotator cuff. Then one night I broke a wine glass on the bench which then rolled onto my foot and a shard stabbed me. Blood everywhere so off to BNH [will I ever learn?] where I was told Xrays cannot pick up glass so I was just stitched up [both meanings]  and sent home. 4 days later a piece of glass emerged from the bottom of my foot so back to BNH where another doctor took an Xray and  found several small pieces of glass in there

I met an old Canadian bloke when he came here for some work on his wrinkly old face. Part of the surgery was around his ears. A week later he was at the airport on his way home and the bandage slipped. He went to the bathroom for a mirror to re-tie it. When he unwound the thing his ear fell off. He cancelled his flight and went back to the hospital. It was re-attached and he went off home again. I never saw him again so cannot give you the end result.

[Sheryl]

Your stories re not, in fact, about treatment given by hospitals. Hospitals are buildings and do not treat. They are stories about treatment given by specific doctors. These exact same hospitals have some excellent doctors, but one must do due diligence in seeking them out. All hospitals have mediocre and even some downright incompetent doctors.

[Sheryl]

34 minutes ago, connda said:

Yeah, my friend is dealing with a $5000 deductible and an insurance company who will not give him an accurate upfront breakdown of the costs at a US hospital, which is now par for the course in the US.  If 150K at a government hospital is low end, then it's a zero-sum solution for him imho.  At the present exchange rate it's about 4500 USD and change.

If anyone has had a rotator cuff repaired in a government hospital, please share what your actual costs were and which hospital.  Or if anyone has had the same surgery in India.  Thanks.

If he is looking for a better option than paying a $5000 deductible  in the US, taking into account airfare etc, he's not going to find it. And note that tretament at a government hospital is time-consuming, multiple visits long waits, waiting lists for surgery etc.

 

I assume it is clear that surgery is required?

[Nip]

29 minutes ago, bosun said:

I am sure your friend has done the rounds already ...  but I took my MRI scan of a rotator cuff tear from Bkk hospital to the UK's leading shoulder surgeon in Harley Street. He recommended everything but surgery ! Sure enough 6 months later I was active again . Now my other rotator is very painful and this time I went to Bumrungrad to a sports injury surgeon.

Same advice. Basically shoulder surgery has some of the worst success rates of any joint surgery. Please ask your friend to think very very carefully and as others have mentioned choose very carefully as it is a big risk especially if he is a bit older. All the best

And sorry the cost is around 350,000 plus at the leading private Thai hospitals

I've just had the same experience in Ireland. Just this week the top bone specialist said in his experience 'Cuff' surgery has a success rate of less than 33%. He injected a steroid cocktail and recommended physiotherapy for 3 to 6 months. 

[wallybee]

Try Rajavej hospital, they have some good surgeons there. I had one at Bumrungrad, very good and very expensive, got a couple of years later my other cuff torn, not as badly as the first one and decided not to have it operated on, now it is much better with some exercise. Google it.

The recovery period is long and painful, took me over 6 months

[connda]

13 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

If he is looking for a better option than paying a $5000 deductible  in the US, taking into account airfare etc, he's not going to find it. And note that tretament at a government hospital is time-consuming, multiple visits long waits, waiting lists for surgery etc.

 

I assume it is clear that surgery is required?

It was recommended based on an MRI in the US.  Perhaps India may still be an option.  He knows Thailand.  Has been here for visits in the past, and enjoys Thailand.  Weighting things other than costs, like combining a visit with surgery, and recovering post surgery in the LOS?  That's a decision he'll need to make.  I linked him to this thread.  I'm sure he'll see this at some point.  Thanks Sheryl. 

[Suradit69]

2 hours ago, Trentham said:

Do not have an operation in Thailand. I have had and know of others who have had horrendous experiences.

I've had surgery in Thailand. The results were excellent.

[mek]

I had surgery done on torn rotator cuff a few years ago at BNH hospital in Bangkok. Very good experience. Approximately 3 month after surgery I was back at work. The operation costed around 360.000 baht paid by my insurance. 

Today I have no probs with that shoulder doing CrossFit etc. 

[thurien]

2 hours ago, connda said:

 Maharaj in Chiang Mai - it was excellent!  Doctors and staff were fantastic!  I have nothing but praises.

 

and we should not forget that in all Maharaj hospitals in bigger cities like Udon, Khon Kaen, Khorat they employ doctors who also work in private hospitals such as Bangkok H., St Mary H. and some University clinics

[Jonnapat]

Had this surgery 12 years ago at Piyavate hospital (private) ,keyhole surgery with screw inserted. Cost was around 90,000 baht in those days with 2 night hospital stay

[Formaleins]

3 hours ago, connda said:

Personally if it was me, I'd take the long waits at Maharaj in Chiang Mai.  Had top notch surgery for an inguinal hernia repaired there in 2010 for about 18,000 THB total.  Yeah, dealing with the day long waits to get the surgery scheduled was a pain, and about 3 months on the waiting list, but it was elective surgery and I had no complications, and once admitted into the hospital - it was excellent!  Doctors and staff were fantastic!  I have nothing but praises.

As far as an emergency is concerned I would agree with you - (Their emergency department is first rate), but as far as an operation and in patient service - you would be better off at a dog kennel.

They will rip you off as much as they can get away with, you will not get a private room, you will be on a filthy ward with spiders webs no aircon and a rotary fan, for which you will be charged about 8000 baht a night while the Thais pay a fraction. Stay away from that hospital - it was my worst experience as an in patient EVER! - Try the Mc Cormick / Mc Cormack, again if you get a good doctor you should be OK, but at least you wont be sleeping in a pigsty every night!

Put the shoe on the other foot and I once spent a night in my local Government hospital, where often you can get a private room for a reasonable cost, but should this not be available - then be prepared for HELL!

I was in a public ward, maybe 12 or 14 beds, during the night at least one person decided to throw feces around and then crawl all over the floor, a second contender merely lay in bed and had a few dumps - the smell was unbearable, another two occupants were tied to the bed with bits of ripped sheets, funny though, all night Richard Chamberlain never turned up, and Doctor Quim medicine woman spent her time beating the fecal fiends! It was like something from an 1800's mental asylum.

Edited October 21, 2017 by Formaleins

[Jonnapat]

2 hours ago, Suradit69 said:

I've had surgery in Thailand. The results were excellent.

Same here with excellent treatment

[Formaleins]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Your stories re not, in fact, about treatment given by hospitals. Hospitals are buildings and do not treat. They are stories about treatment given by specific doctors. These exact same hospitals have some excellent doctors, but one must do due diligence in seeking them out. All hospitals have mediocre and even some downright incompetent doctors.

What rubbish! Hospitals get a good name when they provide competent care as and when needed - to try and tell people they need to perform Due Diligence when going to a hospital is complete RUBBISH!

Can a coma patient complete due diligence and if he / she dies it is own fault because he wasn't able too check out the SAWBONES / QUACKS from the real doctors? The Hospital and the administrators should be doing this job and weeding out the incompetent fools that continue to practice here. 

Have you the least idea how DIFFICULT / NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE it is to get rid of an incompetent or useless doctor in the civilized countries like the UK or the USA - Can you imagine how difficult it would be to get rid of a quack in Thailand?

Harold Shipman could walk away scot free here and set up a damn clinic! and his surgery wall would be adorned with certificates as to his competence!

 

[connda]

31 minutes ago, Formaleins said:

As far as an emergency is concerned I would agree with you - (Their emergency department is first rate), but as far as an operation and in patient service - you would be better off at a dog kennel.

They will rip you off as much as they can get away with, you will not get a private room, you will be on a filthy ward with spiders webs no aircon and a rotary fan, for which you will be charged about 8000 baht a night while the Thais pay a fraction. Stay away from that hospital - it was my worst experience as an in patient EVER! - Try the Mc Cormick / Mc Cormack, again if you get a good doctor you should be OK, but at least you wont be sleeping in a pigsty every night!

Put the shoe on the other foot and I once spent a night in my local Government hospital, where often you can get a private room for a reasonable cost, but should this not be available - then be prepared for HELL!

I was in a public ward, maybe 12 or 14 beds, during the night at least one person decided to throw feces around and then crawl all over the floor, a second contender merely lay in bed and had a few dumps - the smell was unbearable, another two occupants were tied to the bed with bits of ripped sheets, funny though, all night Richard Chamberlain never turned up, and Doctor Quim medicine woman spent her time beating the fecal fiends! It was like something from an 1800's mental asylum.

"As far as an emergency is concerned I would agree with you - (Their emergency department is first rate), but as far as an operation and in patient service - you would be better off at a dog kennel."
I really am sorry, but you are totally out of your mind.  I spent three nights in a single room in Maharaj.  That should have been 24,000 THB by your calculations.  My entire stay, surgery, doctor's fees, hernia mesh, private room, drugs, nursing care, food, aftercare, etc, was 18,000 THB.  I could go point to point with your assertions.  But I won't because they are ludicrous and highly inaccurate, and I have no idea what your agenda is.